Experience

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

• United States
• Law Enforcement
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Ecological Data Specialist

  • May 2022 - Present

  Provide database & reporting application support to scientists. Provide database & reporting application support to scientists.



Lynker

• United States
• Environmental Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Fisheries Compliance Analyst

  • Nov 2020 - Apr 2022

  Tracked fisheries compliance for the NOAA Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program. Tracked fisheries compliance for the NOAA Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program.



Nova Southeastern University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Student

  • Jun 2017 - Aug 2020

  During my master's thesis, I served to determine age information on four numerically dominant deep-pelagic fishes collected during NOAA NRDA and DEEPEND cruises in the Gulf of Mexico to provide life history parameters that can be utilized in ecosystem-based management models to assess, manage, and protect these deep-pelagic fishes. I aimed to promote and inspire deep-pelagic research as the deep-pelagic is one of the most data deficient ecosystems in the ocean. During my thesis project,… Show more During my master's thesis, I served to determine age information on four numerically dominant deep-pelagic fishes collected during NOAA NRDA and DEEPEND cruises in the Gulf of Mexico to provide life history parameters that can be utilized in ecosystem-based management models to assess, manage, and protect these deep-pelagic fishes. I aimed to promote and inspire deep-pelagic research as the deep-pelagic is one of the most data deficient ecosystems in the ocean. During my thesis project, I extracted otoliths ranging in size from 100 – 600 microns and developed processing methods for the small otoliths of deep-pelagic fishes. I summarized data utilizing R software and produced the first growth curves and lifespans along with providing the first descriptions of otolith external and internal morphology for these deep-pelagic fishes. I presented my findings at five research conferences and was honored by my funding source (GOMRI) as a GOMRI Scholar.

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Jun 2018 - Jul 2020

  I served as a graduate research assistant and lab manager for the Oceanic Ecology Laboratory at Nova Southeastern University and the DEEPEND Consortium. While working at NSU, I actively planned several research cruises by organizing travel plans among several universities, coordinating trawl net repairs, communicating with the research vessel for the shipment of trawling nets, bars and weights, facilitating the ordering, packing, and loading of all cruise supplies, and facilitating the… Show more I served as a graduate research assistant and lab manager for the Oceanic Ecology Laboratory at Nova Southeastern University and the DEEPEND Consortium. While working at NSU, I actively planned several research cruises by organizing travel plans among several universities, coordinating trawl net repairs, communicating with the research vessel for the shipment of trawling nets, bars and weights, facilitating the ordering, packing, and loading of all cruise supplies, and facilitating the booking of van rental for the transport of various cruise supplies. I participated in research cruises as part of the science crew assisting with the set-up of trawling nets, sorting and identifying specimens in trawl samples, measuring and weighing all fishes, directly inputting data into the database, properly preserving trawling samples, and collating data sets collected during the cruise into the large database. After research cruises, I directly collated text and data to produce two DEEPEND cruise reports and assisted in publications focusing on the ecosystem assessment of the deep-pelagic in the Gulf of Mexico with management suggestions. In terms of database management, I assisted with collating and QA/QC’ing two large data sets in Microsoft Access containing biological data, field sample data, and chemical data collected from the Gulf of Mexico to assess the damage due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. - Data set 1: 1.5 million NOAA supported Gulf of Mexico Offshore Sampling and Analysis program database (218,746 records). - Data set 2: 9.6 million GOMRI-funded DEEPEND Consortium database (32,075 records). With this data, I assisted with the summarization of results from the data collected during the DEEPEND research cruises in comparison to the data collected during the NOAA NRDA research cruises.

• Sea Turtle Specialist

  • Jul 2017 - Jul 2018

  As a Sea Turtle Specialist I collected nesting data on endangered sea turtles in Broward County to properly assess nesting populations and provide management metrics to Broward county, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and federal agencies, while also educating the public on sea turtle biology, nesting, and the proper habits they could be doing to help conserve sea turtle population. As a sea turtle specialist, I identified sea turtle nests and false crawls while collecting data… Show more As a Sea Turtle Specialist I collected nesting data on endangered sea turtles in Broward County to properly assess nesting populations and provide management metrics to Broward county, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and federal agencies, while also educating the public on sea turtle biology, nesting, and the proper habits they could be doing to help conserve sea turtle population. As a sea turtle specialist, I identified sea turtle nests and false crawls while collecting data such as species, GPS location, distance from the waterline, and length of the crawl to determine the size of sea turtle. I relocated at risk nests while collecting data on the number of eggs relocated and GPS coordinates of new location. I performed nest excavations and hatch success assessments collecting data on the number of successful hatchlings vs. non-successful hatchlings. Overall, I monitored and managed over 3,000 nests throughout Broward County, FL. I also responded to sea turtle strandings and transported sea turtles to rehab facilities. I Collected data such as the location of stranding, location of the injury, measurements of the turtle, species, and sex. Lastly, I participated in educational public hatchling releases, table events, and educational turtle talks.



Old Dominion University

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Laboratory Technician

  • Jun 2015 - Oct 2016

  I served as a laboratory technical intern for a NOAA-funded project examining the impact of the PaV1 virus has on Caribbean spiny lobster mortality and viral status conversion. As a laboratory technician, I participated in diver surveys collecting Caribbean spiny lobsters (Florida Keys). In lab, I monitored and maintained water quality in the laboratory and properly fed Caribbean spiny lobster specimens. I facilitated the collection of lobster blood and tissue samples for PCR analysis… Show more I served as a laboratory technical intern for a NOAA-funded project examining the impact of the PaV1 virus has on Caribbean spiny lobster mortality and viral status conversion. As a laboratory technician, I participated in diver surveys collecting Caribbean spiny lobsters (Florida Keys). In lab, I monitored and maintained water quality in the laboratory and properly fed Caribbean spiny lobster specimens. I facilitated the collection of lobster blood and tissue samples for PCR analysis and maintained all data records.

• Undergraduate Student Researcher

  • Oct 2015 - May 2016

  I conducted an independent laboratory research project investigating the effect of elevated seawater temperature and salinity on the transmission of the PaV1 virus in juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster. I performed daily repairs and maintenance on tanks, sumps, and pumps as needed and ensured proper care and husbandry for Caribbean spiny lobster specimens and conducted daily water chemistry tests and water changes on a need basis. I facilitated the collection of lobster blood and tissue… Show more I conducted an independent laboratory research project investigating the effect of elevated seawater temperature and salinity on the transmission of the PaV1 virus in juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster. I performed daily repairs and maintenance on tanks, sumps, and pumps as needed and ensured proper care and husbandry for Caribbean spiny lobster specimens and conducted daily water chemistry tests and water changes on a need basis. I facilitated the collection of lobster blood and tissue for PCR analysis in order to identify specimens infected by the virus.



Central Caribbean Marine Institute

• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Field and Lab Intern

  • May 2015 - Jun 2015

  I took part as a field and lab intern studying coral biology and collecting data to assess coral bleaching. For these projects, I performed diver surveys identifying corals and documenting their size and color for baseline data on coral bleaching for Little Cayman Island. During these diver surveys I conducted reef assessments documenting reef rugosity and macroalgae to assess coral relationships prior to bleaching events. Lastly, I participated in the building of coral nursery… Show more I took part as a field and lab intern studying coral biology and collecting data to assess coral bleaching. For these projects, I performed diver surveys identifying corals and documenting their size and color for baseline data on coral bleaching for Little Cayman Island. During these diver surveys I conducted reef assessments documenting reef rugosity and macroalgae to assess coral relationships prior to bleaching events. Lastly, I participated in the building of coral nursery structures and out-planted corals from coral nurseries onto coral reefs. Show less I took part as a field and lab intern studying coral biology and collecting data to assess coral bleaching. For these projects, I performed diver surveys identifying corals and documenting their size and color for baseline data on coral bleaching for Little Cayman Island. During these diver surveys I conducted reef assessments documenting reef rugosity and macroalgae to assess coral relationships prior to bleaching events. Lastly, I participated in the building of coral nursery… Show more I took part as a field and lab intern studying coral biology and collecting data to assess coral bleaching. For these projects, I performed diver surveys identifying corals and documenting their size and color for baseline data on coral bleaching for Little Cayman Island. During these diver surveys I conducted reef assessments documenting reef rugosity and macroalgae to assess coral relationships prior to bleaching events. Lastly, I participated in the building of coral nursery structures and out-planted corals from coral nurseries onto coral reefs. Show less



Old Dominion University

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Field Intern

  • Jul 2012 - Aug 2012

  I took part as a field intern assisting with the building of sponge restoration sites in the Florida Keys and collecting data for the study focusing on the success of each restoration site in terms of the fish and invertebrate biodiversity. -I transferred sponge cuttings onto bricks and transported these substrates to the designated sponge restoration field sites. Diver surveys were performed along transects within the sponge restoration sites identifying and documenting invertebrates… Show more I took part as a field intern assisting with the building of sponge restoration sites in the Florida Keys and collecting data for the study focusing on the success of each restoration site in terms of the fish and invertebrate biodiversity. -I transferred sponge cuttings onto bricks and transported these substrates to the designated sponge restoration field sites. Diver surveys were performed along transects within the sponge restoration sites identifying and documenting invertebrates to species. I directly maintained and collated data records and participated in the installation and collection of GoPro’s on each site and assisted with the examination of GoPro images identifying and documenting reef fishes. I also participated in diver surveys collecting Caribbean spiny lobster for a reproduction study. Show less I took part as a field intern assisting with the building of sponge restoration sites in the Florida Keys and collecting data for the study focusing on the success of each restoration site in terms of the fish and invertebrate biodiversity. -I transferred sponge cuttings onto bricks and transported these substrates to the designated sponge restoration field sites. Diver surveys were performed along transects within the sponge restoration sites identifying and documenting invertebrates… Show more I took part as a field intern assisting with the building of sponge restoration sites in the Florida Keys and collecting data for the study focusing on the success of each restoration site in terms of the fish and invertebrate biodiversity. -I transferred sponge cuttings onto bricks and transported these substrates to the designated sponge restoration field sites. Diver surveys were performed along transects within the sponge restoration sites identifying and documenting invertebrates to species. I directly maintained and collated data records and participated in the installation and collection of GoPro’s on each site and assisted with the examination of GoPro images identifying and documenting reef fishes. I also participated in diver surveys collecting Caribbean spiny lobster for a reproduction study. Show less